Getting There and Around in Osaka
Part of the Osaka travel guide — see every topic in All Osaka Guides.
Osaka is easy to reach and easy to get around. Kansai International Airport has fast trains and buses into the city. Inside Osaka, the subway and JR trains reach almost every sight. This guide explains the airport links, the ICOCA card, the Osaka Amazing Pass, the main subway lines, and what you will find today at Yumeshima, the island that hosted Expo 2025.
From Kansai Airport
Kansai International Airport sits on an island in Osaka Bay. A bridge links it to the mainland. There are two main train choices. The JR Haruka limited express goes to Tennoji in about 35 minutes and to Shin-Osaka, the bullet train station, in about 50 minutes. It then continues to Kyoto. The Nankai rapi:t goes to Namba in about 35 to 40 minutes. Slower and cheaper trains run on both lines too. Airport limousine buses go to Umeda, Namba and many big hotels. They are a good choice if you have heavy bags. Osaka Itami Airport, closer to the city, handles domestic flights only.
ICOCA card
ICOCA is a rechargeable smart card from JR West. You touch it on the gate when you enter and leave. It works on JR, the Osaka Metro, private railways and most buses. It also works in many shops and vending machines. ICOCA is part of a national system, so it also works in Tokyo and other big cities. You can buy one from ticket machines at major JR stations, and you get your deposit back when you return it. A mobile version also exists for some phones. Many gates in Osaka now also accept contactless bank cards, but check before you rely on it.
Osaka Amazing Pass
The Osaka Amazing Pass is a tourist pass with 1-day and 2-day versions. It gives unlimited rides on many trains and buses in the city. It also gives free entry to about 40 places, such as viewpoints, boat rides and museums. A 28-hour version for people who arrive at Kansai Airport was also announced. The pass is sold online and used through a phone app. The pass pays off only if you visit several paid sights in one day. Plan your route first and add up the normal prices. Check which lines each version covers, because the 1-day and 2-day passes differ.
Subway and JR lines
The Osaka Metro is clean, safe and has signs in English. The most useful line is the red Midosuji Line. It runs north to south through Shin-Osaka, Umeda, Shinsaibashi, Namba and Tennoji. The JR Osaka Loop Line circles the centre and stops at Osaka, Osakajokoen and Tennoji. For Universal Studios Japan, change from the Loop Line to the Yumesaki Line at Nishikujo. Trains are very crowded from about 7:30 am to 9 am on weekdays. Most lines stop running around midnight. Stand on the right side of escalators in Osaka. This is the opposite of Tokyo.
Yumeshima today
Yumeshima is a man-made island in Osaka Bay. It hosted Expo 2025, which ran from April to October 2025. The Expo is now closed, and most of the site is being cleared for new uses. The current plan keeps a section of about 200 m of the giant wooden Grand Ring as a park. A large resort with hotels and a convention centre is under construction next to the old Expo site, with opening planned for around 2030. Yumeshima Station on the Chuo subway line opened in 2025. Large parts of the island are building sites, so check what is open before you visit.
Getting There and Around at a glance
| Getting there | Kansai Airport: JR Haruka to Tennoji about 35 minutes; Nankai rapi:t to Namba about 35 to 40 minutes |
|---|---|
| Hours | Most trains run from about 5 am to midnight |
| Cost | Pay as you go with ICOCA; the Osaka Amazing Pass suits days with many paid sights |
| Best time | Avoid weekday rush hours, about 7:30 am to 9 am |
| Tip | In Osaka, stand on the right on escalators |